On July 4th, tragedy struck an Evansville, Indiana home when 12-year-old Alice Bredol was found dead. Now, her parents, Ashley and Brent Bredol, are facing charges of neglect of a dependent causing death, a level one felony in Indiana. The case has sparked outrage and sent shockwaves through the community, raising questions about parental responsibility and the role of child protective services.
A Series of Missed Opportunities
Alice, diagnosed with type 1 diabetes in 2020, relied on a strict regimen of insulin injections to manage her condition. Sadly, this life-saving care was tragically neglected. Court documents reveal a chilling pattern of negligence by the Bredols, dating back years before Alice’s death.
The probable cause affidavit, prepared by an Evansville police detective, paints a grim picture of Alice’s final days and the repeated failures of her parents to provide her with the necessary care. Ashley, Alice’s mother, admitted to investigators that they had run out of pods for Alice’s insulin pump and were waiting for supplies. She also claimed that the Dexcom G6 sensor, a device that monitors blood sugar levels and sends alerts to their phones, had fallen off Alice’s arm and was dead. However, investigators later discovered two new, unopened sensor units in the home.
A young girl with brown hair and pink shirt smiling brightly while holding a stuffed animal.
Furthermore, the affidavit details several instances leading up to Alice’s death where her dangerously high blood sugar levels were ignored. Ashley admitted that on July 3rd, she returned home from work at 1:00 a.m. to find Alice and her three-year-old sister still awake. Instead of ensuring Alice took her insulin, Ashley simply told the girls to go to bed.
On the day of Alice’s death, Ashley left for work, leaving Alice in her care. Tragically, it wasn’t until 5:00 p.m. that Ashley checked on Alice, finding her unresponsive on the bedroom floor. Despite recognizing her daughter’s critical state, Ashley did not immediately call for medical help. Instead, she attempted to administer insulin herself. It was only hours later, at around 7:00 p.m., that Ashley finally instructed her son to call 911. By then, it was too late.
A History of Neglect: School Nurse Raises Red Flags
Disturbingly, the affidavit reveals that Alice’s tragic death was not an isolated incident. The school nurse, hailed as a hero in this heartbreaking case, had been diligently monitoring Alice’s blood sugar levels at school and had repeatedly contacted the Department of Child Services (DCS) with concerns about potential neglect.
Records show that the school nurse first contacted DCS in February 2024, reporting that Alice’s blood sugar levels had been dangerously high for four consecutive days. She explicitly stated that Alice’s condition was life-threatening and that her parents, despite having a Dexcom monitor, were failing to manage her diabetes adequately. Shockingly, DCS closed the assessment as “unsubstantiated” just a day after the nurse filed a new report in April.
Unanswered Questions and a Community’s Outrage
Alice’s death has left the Evansville community reeling, with many questioning why more wasn’t done to protect this vulnerable child. The repeated warnings from the school nurse, the readily available resources like the unopened Dexcom sensors, and the parents’ alleged disregard for their daughter’s well-being paint a tragic picture of systemic failure.
Prosecutors are currently pursuing charges of neglect, arguing that the Bredols’ actions, or lack thereof, directly led to their daughter’s preventable death. While the investigation continues, the question remains: could more have been done to save Alice, and will justice be served for this innocent child?
